Electric Utility Operations

Flying High: Opening Ceremony of the 2014 International Lineman's Rodeo

Oct. 20, 2014

I am so glad I got up early to catch the opening ceremony at the 2014 International Lineman’s Rodeo.

I am so glad I got up early to catch the opening ceremony at the 2014 International Lineman’s Rodeo. Volunteers guided to me to a parking spot in the open field next to the rodeo grounds in Wyandotte Kansas. As I pulled up, I could see the field of wooden poles that would soon be the center of activity.

I made my way to the center of the grounds where hundreds of linemen had already gathered. The sun was rising on this crisp, fall day.

Mike Wilman was again, master of ceremony for the rodeo. The morning event started off with an invocation where we were asked for a moment of silence for those comrades fallen in the line of duty, then a solemn prayer that the rodeo would be safe.

Kansas City Power & Light Vice President of Power Delivery Duane Anstaett welcomed all to the event, stating with “I’ve been coming to this event for 25 years and it keeps getting better, I just love it.”

We were then treated with a flyover of WWII aircraft. We then heard Dorothy May play the bagpipes. The microphone was then handed over to Mary Nord whose voice floated over the rodeo grounds with a moving rendition of our national anthem. And when I say moving, there were tears in my eyes and of those around me. The United States, Canadian and British flags were raised and the games commenced. What a fine start to what proved to be a fine day for competing with a true spirit of cooperation.

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The ILRA was thrilled to have linemen from the United States Army compete in the 2014 event. Here the linemen joined in on the opening ceremony.

About the Author

Rick Bush | Editorial Director

Richard A. Bush is the editorial director of Transmission & Distribution World. Prior to joining T&D World as editor-in-chief in 1994, Bush worked at the Georgia Power Company Research Center (now NEETRAC) where he held engineering and management positions.

In June 1988, Bush received the Georgia Power "Engineer of the Year" award, and in 1994, he received the "Technology Applications Recognition" award from the Electric Power Research Institute. In 1996, he was awarded a Jesse H. Neal Certificate of Merit for editorial excellence.

Bush holds BSME and MSME degrees from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and he is a senior member of the IEEE.